136 N A I L P R O D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4 N A I L P R O . C O M 137

StressorsSalonExpert fixes

for your top five

workplace complaints.

B y L i z B a r r e t t

W orking within a community of nail technicians is a great experience. It allows you to form new friendships, share techniques and unite under the common goal of helping clients feel beautiful. However, workplace issues—both environmental and interpersonal—may

occasionally arise and how you address these problems will ultimately affect your professional sat-isfaction. To help, we asked seasoned techs and salon owners to tackle five of the most common workplace challenges—and offer up easy solutions that you can start implementing today.

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3THE PROBLEM: My work chair is uncomfortable.

THE SOLUTION: Pay close attention to positioning—of both the seat and yourself. “A comfortable stool or chair is extremely important,” says LaShon Lee-Evans, freelance manicurist at Marilyn Monroe Nail Boutique in Orlando, Florida. “Ensuring that your seat is ergonomically correct will assist you in working through a long, profitable day.” When sitting, be sure to use a seat with a back as well as one that allows you to adjust the height so that your feet are flat on the floor. “My chair height is adjustable, plus the backrest and seat tilt, so I can move it several ways for the perfect position,” says Maggie Franklin, owner of The Art of Nailz in Visalia, California. “Fine-tuning the seat tilt means I can alleviate pressure under the backs of my thighs so that my feet don’t go numb, and being able to tilt the backrest means I can get good back support.” Nail technician Ruth Windsor, CCPMA, at Angelic Beau-ty Works in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, also stresses the importance of a good fit. “You want to make sure that the seat area is padded and wide, so that it doesn’t press into your leg or buttocks,” she says. “Over time this can [potentially lead to] nerve damage.”

If you’re planning to purchase a new chair, check with your employer to see if she knows a supplier with more affordable options than a traditional retail store might offer. Or, you can try to correct your current chair by adding a cushion or two for additional support. Also remember to practice proper posture. “Take time throughout your day to stretch and, whenever possible, place a client’s foot or hand in a position where you are not bending down too low to perform the service,” says Lee-Evans. Adjusting your chair height can also help correct bad posture, says Larkyn South, owner of Nails by Larkyn in West Jordan, Utah. “Lower your chair enough so that your arms rest comfortably on the table and you are able to sit in an upright position,” she suggests.

THE PROBLEM: My station isn’t big enough to store my nail products, polishes and tools.

THE SOLUTION: Think outside your immediate space. If you’re able to hang items on the wall near your station, create an extra storage area with a mounted wall rack. Or, check out the wide range of other ideas at container stores and in storage departments. “Using long picture frame shelving from Ikea can hold at least 52 bottles of polish,” says Lee-Evans. If you have products that need special care (or that are particularly important to you), you may want to purchase a small footlocker that will fit under or near your station. “If you are a booth renter or independent contractor, you need to be able to stock your products and supplies without the worry of curious fingers going through your things,” says Windsor, who notes that many styles of salon furniture come with locked cabinets, too.

THE PROBLEM: The light in the salon is inadequate.

THE SOLUTION: You must make sure that you can see what you’re doing, otherwise your services will definitely suffer. If there are windows avail-able, you can try to position yourself and your clients to take advantage of the natural light coming through them during the day. If that isn’t an option, most techs recommend multiple light sources. “I have two OttLites on my desk, one on each side of me,” says Franklin. “This gives me a better light saturation and reduces shadows.” Light placement also matters. “I like my light to come from over my head, like sunlight would,” says Franklin. “A short lamp that puts the light over my hands but under my eyes feels unnatural.” When choosing a light source, look for lamps that will take up a small amount of space on your station, so you’ll have plenty of room to work.

When choosing a light source, look for lamps that will take up a small amount

of space on your station, so you’ll have plenty of room

to work.

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THE PROBLEM: One of the techs at my salon talks too much and is disruptive to my clients and me.

THE SOLUTION: If a loud colleague is interrupting your service, the best approach is a direct one. “Go to the source and nicely ask that she lower her voice,” says Windsor. Lee-Evans suggests pulling the problematic colleague aside at the beginning or end of the day and voicing your concerns in a non-threatening manner. “I always try to ‘sandwich’ people if I’m going to deliver information that may be a little difficult to hear,” she says. “I start with a positive statement, such as, ‘I can tell you have a great rapport with your clients!’ I then deliver my concern: ‘At times it can be a little too loud or disruptive to my clients when they are here at the salon and trying to relax.’ Last, I close by saying something positive, such as, ‘I do love the way you connect with your clients to provide them with a fun and friendly experience.’” If you’re afraid of confrontation, you may want to speak with the salon manager or owner and explain the situation to see if they can speak to your coworker on your behalf.

THE PROBLEM: I don’t have a dedicated station where I can put my personal items.

THE SOLUTION: If you’ve purchased a footlocker for supplies, you may be able to squeeze your purse in there, too. Or, take the advice of Lee-Evans and think small. “If you don’t have a dedicated workstation, consider limiting the amount of personal items you bring into the salon,” she says. “Keep the basics in a makeup bag that is small enough to bring from sta-tion to station with little fuss.” For those days when you need to store your coat or a larger tote, ask the salon owner where you might be able to find some extra space. “If there is a break room or supply closet, you might be able to store personal items there in a locked cabinet,” says Windsor.

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Liz Barrett is an Oxford, MS-based writer and author of Pizza: A Slice of American History. PH

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